Trick-gun.



G. -P. RIGGS.

TRIGK GUN. i .APPLICATION FILED DEO,16, 1908.

Patented- May 1?, 1910.

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P. RIGGS.

TRIGK GUN.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.1G, 1908.

Patented May 17, 1910.

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UNITED sTATEs PaTENT oEEicE.

GEORGE P. RIGGS, OF ST. MARYS, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO ERASTUS DE MOULIN, OF GREENVILLE, ILLINOIS.

THICK-GUN.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, GEORGE P. RIGGs, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Marys, in the county of Pleasants and State of I/Vest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trick-Guns; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to trick guns designed especially for use in secret societies, in and about initiations, etc.

The gun is adapted for discharging a stream of water either in a forward or rearward direction While an explosive cap or tablet is simultaneously exploded.

rlhe present invention has for its objects, among others, to produce a more complete illusion of an ordinary rearm, to simplify the construction of the operating parts, and at the same time make the price of the complete gun so reasonable that it can be purchased and employed by secret societies in general.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description.

The invention consists broadly in providing means for discharging water and causing an explosion at the same time.

The invention also consists in providing the barrel with a discharge nozzle or plug which may be turned so as to direct the discharge in either a forward or rearward direction.

The invention consists further in mounting an imitation sight on said nozzle or plug whereby the illusion is rendered more complete. y

The invention consists further in employing an auxiliary barrel in which is mounted mechanism for causing an explosion and providing plungers in main and auxiliary barrels adapted to move in the same direction for discharging water and causing the explosion.

The invention also consists in the use of mechanism for retaining both plungers in their retracted positions and for simultaneously releasing them.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 16, 1908.

Serial No. 467,823.

The invention also consists in the features of construction and combinations of devices hereinafter described and specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of a gun constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof, part of the stock being broken away and the plungers being shown in their forward positions. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the plungers in their rear positions. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the forward ends of the two barrels showing more particularly the construction of the nozzle, imitation sight and the explosive tablet retaining device, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the rear ends of said barrels showing more particularly the trigger construction and the means for retaining the plunger in the auxiliary barrel in its retracted position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I designates the stock which is made like that of an ordinary firearm. The main barrel 2 is supported on the stock in the usual manner while the auxiliary barrel 3 is arranged below and parallel to said main barrel. IVithin the main barrel is arranged a water-discharging plunger 4f, the forward portion 5 of which fits snugly within a tube 6 whereby water is drawn into said tube by suction through the valve 7 when said plunger is retracted or drawn rearward. The plunger is pressed by a spring 8 mounted around the intermediate portion thereof, said spring serving to move the plunger forward when released for discharging the water from the tube 6. The rear end of the plunger rod is secured to the cooking mechanism which is provided with a knob 9 which protrudes from the breech of the barrel and may be conveniently grasped for charging the gun with water.

rlhe nozzle or plug 7 carries an imitation sight 10 at its upper end through which the common water inlet and dischar epassage 11 is formed. Said nozzle or p ug may be turned so as to direct the discharge of water either in a forward or rearward direction. A stop 12 is preferably placed at the front end of the barrel to arrest the movement of the sight when it reaches a position where Patented May 1*?, 1910.

which water may be drawn into `the passage 11 for charging the gun.

In the auxiliary barrel is mounted a iiring` or exploding plunger 15 which is normally held in a forwardly extended position by a spring 16. Said plunger may be withdrawn or pulled back vby rmeans of a trigger 17E which, when not in use, may be folded against the barrel where it will be out ofthe way and unobserved. In Fig. 1, this, trigger is :shown in its folded position while in Fig. 2 it is shown extended.

The form of explosive which I prefer to use is a tablet or cap 18 illustrated in F ig. l.

This tablet or cap is placed between a fixed block 19, in the front end of the auxiliary barrel, and a spring-pressed retaining yblock 2O which has an extended portion 211 projecting from the front end of said barrel whereby it maybe depressed by the .lingers to permit the insertion of the tablet or cap. A spring 22 interposed between the fixed block and the 4portion 21 normally holds the movable block against said fixed block under sufficient pressure to retain the .tablet or cap between them. rlhe Vfiring plunger is adapted to strike said movable block and explode the cap `or tablet when the gun is operated.

A trigger 23, pivoted on the rear end of the main barrel, is provided with a dog or .catch 24: adapted to engage a notch 25 yin the rear portion of the water discharging plunger when the latter is retracted. The rear portion of said plunger is also rovided with va second notch 26 adapted to be engaged by adog or catch 27 on lthe krear end of the ring plunger when it is retracted. It vwill thus be seen that the trigger retains the water discharging plunger in its ie tracted position while the firing plunger is yheld back by engagement with said water discharging plunger, whereby the release of the latter, upon pulling the trigger, will permit both pliingers to move Aforward simultaneously. The dogs lor catches 2l and 27 are pressed respectively by the arms 28 and 29 of a spring 30 which is preferably formed in a single piece bent upon itself `to form said arms and secured in any -suitable man ner in proper position as by the .screw 31 connected to the rear end of the auxiliary barrel.

To charge the gun ready for use, the

front of the main barrel is placed in water so that the sight is submerged. The water discharging plunger is then drawn back by grasping and pulling the knob 9 of the cocking mechanism unt-il the dog on the trigger engages the notch 25 therein. The .firing or cap exploding device may or may not be used in connection with the water discharging mechanism. If it is to be used, the vfiring plunger is then drawn back by grasping and pulling the folding trigger 17 which is of course lirst turned down into position to be grasped, and subsequently folded again. Said iiring plunger is retracted until its dog 27 engages with the notch `26 in the water `discharging plunger. The .explosive ca p or tablet is then inserted between the fixed block 19 and the movable block 20 vby pressing upon the projection 21 and allowing it t-o return to its normal position after said cap or tablet is in place. The gun is now ready to be used or discharged, the direction in which the water is sent being governed by the position of the imitation sight. Thus, if the gun is to be used by a member of a secret society for :throwing water into the 4face of a candidate, during an initiation, the sight is turned so as to point forward. If the gun is given to the candidate .to be discharged, the sight is first turned :to jpoint rearward so that the `water will be directed back into his face.

lVhile I have herein shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I am aware that changes may be made in details without departing from the spirit or sacrificing lthe advantages of the invention. I, therefore, reserve the right to make such .changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims in view of the drawings and this specification.

r1`he cocking mechanism may be formed in a separate ltubular piece or sleeve 32, as illustrated, to which the knob 9 is attached. Said sleeve is provided with a slot 33 through which the block 34- secured to the :plunger rod l and having the notches 25 and 26 extends for engagement by the trigger dog 24 and dog 27. The inner end of .this slot is closed, as at 35, whereby it will engage said block 34 and cause the plunger to be drawn back when the knob 9 is withdrawn. Then said block has become locked in its rear position by the trigger, the slot :in the .sleeve 32 permits said sleeve to be pushed back into the breech vof the barrel Vwhere Vit will be no more observed than when the gun is .not charged with water.

I claim:

1. In a trick gun, the combination, with a main barrel and means therein yfor discharging water, of an auxiliary barrel and means therein for exploding an explosive.

2. In a trick gun, the combination, with a main barrel and water .discharging mechanisin in said barrel, of an auxiliary barrel, mechanism for exploding an explosive therein, anda trigger adapted to simultaneously operate said water-discharging mechanism and said exploding mechanism.

3. In a trick gun, the combination, with a barrel having a common water inlet and discharge opening in its muzzle end, of a spring pressed suction plunger in said barrel adapted to draw water into the same when the muzzle end of the barrel is submerged and said plunger is drawn rearward, and means for retaining said plunger in its rear position and for releasing the same to discharge the water.

4. In a trick gun, the combination, with a barrel, of a nozzle fitted therein and adapted to be turned so as to discharge in either a foi'- ward or rearward direction, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to force water through said nozzle, and means for controlling said plunger.

5. In a trick gun, the combination, with a barrel, of a nozzle fitted therein and adapted to be turned so as to discharge in either a forward or rearward direction, an imitation sight carried by said nozzle and having a discharge passage therein, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to force water through said nozzle, and means for controlling said plunger.

6. In a trick gun, the combination, with a barrel, of a nozzle tted therein and adapted to be turned so as to discharge in either a forward or rearward direction, an imitation sight carried by said nozzle and having a discharge passage therein, a cover which normally conceals said passage but is displaced when water is discharged therethrough, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to force water through said nozzle, and means for controlling said plunger.

T. Iii a trick gun, the combination, with a barrel, of a nozzle fitted therein and adapted to be turned so as to discharge in either a forward or rearward direction, an imitation sight carried by said nozzle and having a discharge passage therein, a cover which normally conceals said passage but when closed leaves lateral passages leading thereto, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to force water through said nozzle, and means for controlling said plunger.

S. In a trick gun, the combination, with a barrel, of a nozzle fitted near the forward end thereof and adapted to be turned so as to discharge in either a forward or rearward direction, a spring-pressed plunger adapted to draw water into the barrel through said nozzle when drawn rearward and to force the water out through said nozzle when released, and means for retaining said plunger in its rearward position and for releasing it when desired.

9. In a trick gun, the combination, with a main barrel, and means to discharge water therefrom, of an auxiliary barrel, a device for holding an explosive tablet in said auxiliary barrel, a spring pressed plunger adapted to explode said tablet, and means -to operate said plunger simultaneously with vthe water discharging mechanism.

10. Iii a trick gun, the combination, with a main barrel and means to discharge water therefrom, of an auxiliary barrel, a device for holding an explosive tablet in said auxiliary barrel, a spring pressed plunger adapted to explode said tablet, a folding trigger for setting said plunger, and means for releasing said plunger whereby it will explode the tablet at the same time that the water is discharged from the main barrel.

11. In a trick gun, the combination, with a main barrel and means to discharge water therefrom, of an auxiliary barrel, a positive retaining device for an explosive tablet arranged in the forward end of said auxiliary barrel and having a portion projecting from said end for operating the same, a spring pressed plunger adapted to explode said tablet, and means to operate said plunger simultaneously with the water discharging mechanism.

12. In a trick gun, the combination, with a barrel, of a spring pressed suction plunger adapted to discharge water from said barrel, a knob at therear end of the barrel for drawing back said plunger to charge the barrel with water, a trigger adapted to engage a notch in said plunger for retaining the latter in its retracted osition, an auxiliary barrel, a device in said auxiliary barrel for causing an explosion including a spring-pressed firing plunger, and a catch on the rear end of said firing plunger adapted to engage a notch in the water-discharging pluiiger when both are retracted.

13. Iii a trick gun, the combination, with a barrel, of a spring-pressed suction plunger adapted to discharge water from said barrel, a knob at the rear end of the barrel for drawing back said plunger to charge the barrel with water, a trigger adapted to engage a notch in said plunger for retaining the latter in its retracted position, an auxiliary barrel, a device in said auxiliary barrel for causing an exp-losion including a spring-pressed firing plunger, and a catch on the rear end of said firing plunger adapted to engage a notch in the water-discharging plunger when both are retracted, and springs for holding said trigger and catch in engagement with the respective notches in the water-discharging plunger.

14. In a trick gun, the combination, with a barrel, of a spring-pressed suction plunger adapted to discharge water from said barrel, a knob at the rear end of the barrel for drawing back said plunger to charge the barrel with water, a trigger adapted to engage a notch in said plunger for retaining the latter in its retracted position, an auxiliary barrel,

a device in said .auxiliary barrel for Vcausing an explosion including a, springpressed firing plunger, and a catch Yon the rear end of said firing plunger adapted to en age a notch in the Water discharging p unger when both are retracted, and springs formed of a single Apiece bent upon itseli1 and provided With two arms, lone `engaging the trigger and the other adapted to engage the :trigger and vthe other adapted to engage said catch for holding lthese parts in engagement with Ythe respective notches in the WaterdiSC-harging plunger.

115. In a trick gun, the combination, With a .main barrel, off .a plunger in said barrel, an auxiliary barrel, ,a plunger in said Alatter barrel, the rst .plunger adapted to discharge Water While the second plunger is designed to explode an explosive, and means for operating said plu'ngers whereby they .are 'moved in the saine direction to perform their :respective functions.

In testimony whereof, I afIiX my signature, in presence .of two Witnesses.

GEORGE P. RIGGS. lVitnesses:

CLYDE B. JOHNSON, 0. C. SWEENEY. 

